Bhubaneswar, 14 July (H.S.): After a 14-day period of ritual seclusion in the Anasara Ghara, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra will unveil their rejuvenated form in the sacred Naba Jaubana Besha at the Shree Jagannath Temple on Wednesday, marking the end of the annual Anasara rituals.

The Naba Jaubana Besha, also known as Nabajouban Darshan or Netra Utsav, symbolises the restoration of the youthful splendour of the sibling deities following their ceremonial recuperation after Snana Purnima. The occasion serves as the spiritual prelude to the world-famous Rath Yatra.

A key highlight of the ritual is the Banakalagi (Srikumkha Sringara) ceremony, during which the deities are repainted with natural herbal pigments, including Hingula, Haritala, Kasturi, Keshara, and Kaitha gum. The sacred ritual is performed by the Dutta Mohapatra and Khadiprasad Daitapati servitors in strict adherence to the traditional Banaka Pothi palm-leaf manuscript. The ceremony culminates with the painting of the deities' eyes, symbolising the restoration of their divine consciousness.

Thousands of devotees have gathered in Puri to witness the first darshan of the rejuvenated deities before they embark on their annual chariot journey to the Gundicha Temple during Rath Yatra. The auspicious occasion marks the conclusion of the Anasara period and reinforces the enduring spiritual significance of the Jagannath tradition for millions of devotees.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda